Reviews > Clothing > Jackets > Integral Designs eVENT Rain Jacket > David Sowards-Emmerd > Field Report

Field Report - Integral Designs eVENT Rain Jacket
July 19, 2005

Age: 28
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 8'' (1.73 m)
Weight: 155 lb (70 kg)
Chest: 41'' (104 cm)
Email Address: drunken_marmotATyahooDOTcom
Los Altos, California, USA

Backpacking Background:
I began backpacking semi-frequently about four years ago, soon after moving to California. I generally take weekend (1 night) trips, and occasionally take 3-4 day trips. Most of my backpacking experience is at moderate altitude, 6,000'-12,000' (1,800-3,650 m), in conditions ranging from dry desert to hail/heavy snow in the mountains. In winter and spring I split time between Southern California (SoCal) deserts and snowshoeing/skiing/snow camping in the Sierra/Cascades. Summer and fall I tend to stick to the high country. I have reduced my pack weight down to less than 50 lb (23 kg) over the past year - including food/water and a bear barrel. I'm trying to include more mountaineering, climbing and bouldering in my trips.

The product was received on May 11, 2005.

Product Description:

Manufacturer's Description:
''Designed to provide protection from rain and wind, this lightweight, fully waterproof unisex jacket is comfortable to wear all day long. Features include a fully separating waterproof front zip and an integrated elasticized hood. Adjustable cuffs and bottom hem are trimmed with black coated taslan nylon for increased durability. A large (8'' x 9'') vertical zippered breast pocket is designed to store maps and small items. Sizing is snug as the eVENT Rain Jacket is designed for active use over one or two base layers.

Made from eVENT, a direct venting, air-permeable PTFE trilaminate fabric with a triple grid 30 denier nylon face fabric, the eVENT Rain Jacket is one of the lightest most compact high activity rain jackets available. The fabric has a high rate of moisture vapor permeability which means that there is no excessive condensation buildup on the inside during active use.

Sizes: Small 34-36'' 8.5 oz (242 g)
Medium 38-40'' 8.9 oz (251 g)
Large 42-44'' 9.5 oz (270 g)
X-Large 46-48'' 10.3 oz (293 g)

Packed Size: 4'' x 8'' x 2'' in Silcoat Stuff Sack
Colours: Yellow, Dark Green''

Specifications (as measured by tester):
Weight(jacket): 9.7 oz (275 g)
Weight(stuff sack): 0.42 oz (12 g)
Size(packed): varies, but approximately 7.5'' x 7'' x 3.5'' (19 cm x 18 cm x 9 cm)
Color: Yellow
Size: Large
Front Zipper Length: 26'' (66 cm)
Pocket Zipper Length: 6.5'' (16.5 cm)
Stuff Pouch (laid flat): 9'' x 9'' (23 cm x 23 cm)
Breast Pocket (laid flat): a full 10'' x 8'' (25.5 cm x 20 cm) plus it extends approximately 6'' x 2.5'' (15 cm x 6 cm) under the sleeve/underarm

Product Description:

Fabric Note :

Field Testing:

Lava Beds National Monument, CA
May 28-30, 2005
Elevation: ~5,000' (1,500 m)
Conditions: Variable (see below)

This was one of our standard Memorial day weekend car camping trips to explore a bunch of backcountry lava tube caves, scare away the tourists in the roadside caves with my bike-light-made-headlamp (and temporarily blind the ones that felt the need to point their flashlight towards my eyes), and hike on the typically empty trails (especially on this trip since a mountain lion had recently been stalking visitors on the more popular trail) over this very interesting landscape. I didn't wear the jacket in the caves due to obvious abrasion concerns, but frequently wore it on the approaches to the backcountry caves and on morning dayhikes. I spent several hours of two cool (40 F (5 C)), windy nights wearing the jacket, drinking around a campfire. The first morning we woke up to heavy rain that lasted through the morning coffee and converted to mist around when we hit the trail. The jacket kept me nice and dry through both sitting around camp, and hiking in the mist.

Smith Peak, Hetch Hetchy, Yosemite National Park, CA
June 11-12, 2005
Elevation: 7,700' (2,350 m)
Conditions (during use): 40-50 F (5-10 C), slight breeze, and a beautiful sunset.

No need for the jacket while hiking on this trip as it was quite warm. However, it came in very handy around camp at night, and scrambling around on the summit for 30 minutes or so, photographing the sunset. Since I was sleeping in the ID Bugliner that I am also testing (read: no wind/rain protection) along with a Nunatak Ghost Blanket that's prone to cold breezes blowing underneath it, I chose to wear the jacket to sleep to help prevent this convective heat loss.

Antler Point, Grant County Park, Morgan Hill area, CA
June 19, 2005
Elevation: 3,000' (915 m)
Conditions (during use): partly to mostly cloudy, windy and cool

This was a Geocaching dayhike with my wife. I had carried the jacket along in my daypack for no good reason based on the conditions at the trailhead. However, but the time we reached Antler Point, the temperature had dropped considerably, clouds had moved in, and the wind picked up. I was hot and sweaty upon arrival, but quickly began to cool off after stopping (while I waited for my wife to locate a cache), so I put on the ID jacket over my sleeveless top, and my shirt dried out through the jacket! I have since used this technique frequently to dry out shirts. I sweat enough that this technique doesn't work with most of my other jackets (they simply wet out) - only the ones with pit zips, venting pockets, and a strong breeze. I also wore the jacket for a good fraction of the hike back down to the trailhead, which was nearly all downhill.

Clear Creek Route, Mount Shasta, CA
June 24-25, 2005
Elevation: ~6,000'-14,162' (1,800-4,317 m)
Conditions: VARIED! Hot and sunny to around freezing with hail, rain, and snow.

We had to cancel a separate trip on the north side of the mountain the week before due to weather - 3' (1 m) of new snow in mid-June! This recent snow, combined with the wet winter lead to a little over 1 mi (1.6 km) from the car to get to the trailhead, and solid snow from about 7,000' (2,100 m) to the summit. Weather was sunny and hot (sleeveless) on the hike in to basecamp at 9,600' (2,925 m). The hike in to camp was slow and uneventful, other than postholing. From the time we set up camp, until 10:30 pm, we melted snow with two stoves for the four of us for dinner, tanking up, and water for summit day. I wore the jacket around camp all night, at first with just a base layer underneath, and after sunset added a down vest over the jacket.

Next morning we started out around sunrise and headed for the summit. Weather was cool and sunny, with nice solid snow underfoot. However, clouds kept building up 'around' the mountain - not over the summit, but to the east. Keeping a steady pace, we finally summited and two of us spent about half an hour on the summit waiting for the third to catch up (see summit photo below, jacket an all). Right as he arrived, the snow started, and we headed down quickly after a few more summit shots. The rate of snowfall quickly increased, and popcorn snow rolled down the slope and filled in our 1'+ (30 cm) postholes at the upper elevations. Snowfall increased (see photo below of my partners in crime), and then the lightning started - in the direction of our camp of course! Once the snow turned to hail, it became VERY noisy on the jacket since I didn't have a hat on under the hood at this point! I quickly remedied that with a balaclava. Finally got to the point where we could safely glissade back to camp, and my ice axe started humming... tossed it on the ground for a minute and waited for my turn since I was pulling up the rear on the glissade. The lightning got worse; frequent strikes less than 1 mi (1.6 km) away with us exposed on snowy terrain (I dragged my ice axe behind me on a leash instead of carrying it as a precaution). As we made it closer to camp, visibility dropped low enough that we could hear each other over the wind and hail, but couldn't see each other! Finally got back to camp, and packed up in hail that covered our packs every few minutes. On the way back down from camp to the car, I had the save of the day, chasing down a stray sleeping bag that fell off the pack of one in my party 400' (m) above me (with a big pack on, postholing all the way). This run, plus my extra layers, and the sun, which was now shining, convinced me to stop at the next exposed rock and get rid of some layers since I was saturated under my jacket at this point. However, I wore the jacket the rest of the way to the car. Overall, I was very happy with how the jacket performed on this trip in a wide range of conditions.

Results/Observations of Testing So Far:

Breathability:
BEST breathability of any jacket I've ever worn! Now I just need some matching pants and/or shorts to go with the jacket...

Durability:
I just noticed an area of abrasion at the base of the hood (see backlight photo of the abraded area below). I had not noticed this before, and I'm not sure how it originated (I will keep an eye on it during the remainder of the testing period). I'm very surprised at the location and expected high-abrasion areas like the forearms and armpits to be the first visible.

Ease of cleaning:
I washed the jacket in with the regular laundry after the Shasta trip. The back of the jacket was sweaty from wearing it under a full size pack on this trip, and I figured it was time for a wash.

Waterproofing/Stormworthiness:
Other than snow/rain/hail entering at the neck, the jacket is definitely stormproof and has kept me dry from the outside.

Windproof:
So far as I can tell, the jacket seems completely windproof. However, since I can blow air through the fabric, I am curious if this is an issue with very strong winds - 30 mph (48 km/h) wind is probably the maximum I've worn the jacket in.

Fit:
The jacket fits me very well. It is loose enough that I can move my arms through their full range of motion without tugging the torso up. The length of the jacket is also about optimal for me. It's long enough that it doesn't slide up over the top of my pants, but it's short enough that it's not constraining leg movement. The jacket is also very comfortable worn under a pack - shoulder straps, waistbelt, and pack itself - and I have not noticed any hot spots. The material is also stiff enough (barely) that the fabric doesn't stick to me when I'm wearing just a sleeveless shirt (or nothing) underneath the jacket.

Front Pocket:
Good size and location, and keeps contents dry from the outside. However, when I was sweating a lot on Mt. Shasta (relatively cold outside), I did have some moisture build-up on the Aloksak my camera was in (inside the pocket), but only on the side facing my body. Also, the pocket is still accessible underneath a shoulder strap, however, the usable space is reduced somewhat. Finally, carrying something heavy (old GPS and small camera) didn't create enough of a 'pull' on that side of the jacket to be uncomfortable.

Things I like:

• Most breathable jacket I've ever used, including those with pit zips and other vents. However, I believe pit zips and venting pockets do have an advantage in a strong wind.
• The jacket has been fully waterproof/weatherproof so far. This includes the chest pocket, which I have used frequently to protect my new digital camera from the elements.
• Great fit and works great for layering.
• Very lightweight for a fully waterproof and highly breathable jacket.
• Front pocket is a good size, well placed, and easily accessible.

Things I don't like (Read: nitpicks):

• The hood could use a rear cinch cord - however, this is a minimalist jacket and the elastic hood has been satisfactory so far in a variety layering setups.
• The front zipper can be a bit difficult to zip up at times and I've found two hands were frequently needed - the price of a water-resistant zipper I guess.
• The adjustable cuffs would be perfect if the range was extended so they could be tightened about 0.5'' (~1 cm) tighter.
• A short bill on the hood would be nice - on Shasta, I had to tilt my head forward a bit to keep the hail from stinging my nose. Of course, a hat underneath the hood solves this.

Remaining Test Plan and Testing Locations:

Testing during the next four months will include several backpacking trips in the Sierra and Cascades. I will continue to carry the jacket on nearly all my trips. Finally, during the last month or so of testing, I'm expecting the rainy season to start and the local temperatures will definitely cool down, leading to much more use around town. I will also strive to answer the remaining questions outlined in my Initial Report in my Long Term Report.

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Reviews > Clothing > Jackets > Integral Designs eVENT Rain Jacket > David Sowards-Emmerd > Field Report